Author: Mark Fadely
Edition: Model Aviation - 2010/12
Page Numbers: 126,127,128
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Radio Control Helicopters

Mark Fadely [[email protected]]

The IRCHA Jamboree—sunrise and beyond

Thank you for checking out the helicopter column. MA's International Radio Controlled Helicopter Association (IRCHA) Jamboree coverage continues here with some more in-depth information from this great event.

I was at the field at sunrise each day of the gathering this year. If you get a chance to attend the Jamboree, it is a surreal experience to be out on the flightline at sunrise. The warm summer mornings generally produce a dense fog that covers all of the low-lying areas. Seeing helicopters fly in and out of the fog as the day's first light filters through is fantastic.

The Scale pilots were some of the first to emerge in the mornings. Sublimely detailed helicopters were wheeled through the morning dew and prepared for their competition flights. The Scale Nats was combined with the Jamboree this year, and the biggest names in the modern Scale community were there. Several passionate pilots competed with machines that were modeled after full-scale aircraft that they had either worked on or flown in.

Bob Harris made a return visit to the gathering with his Hiller OH-23 observation helicopter in the YO-BO show scheme. He flew the full-scale version during the Korean War. One of that helicopter's jobs was to fly and record the flight paths of projectiles deployed by infantry on the ground. Coordinates were radioed back to the ground so the infantry's accuracy could be improved. Bob scratch-built this helicopter. The clown face was painted on the canopy of the full-scale aircraft for an Armed Forces Day event in 1964. Now the happy motif flies timelessly on the model.

Butch Wellmaker made a triumphant return to the Jamboree and became the top man at this year's Scale Nats. His caller and fiancée, Rosanne Palumbo, helped by announcing the maneuvers to the judges as Butch flew. Rosanne and Butch planned to be married shortly after the event—congratulations to a great couple. Butch piloted a Sikorsky S-76C++. He is a mechanic for this type of full-scale aircraft and knows the machine inside and out. The model's cockpit gauges are even backlit, as they are on the full-scale S-76. When it came time to fly the helicopter, it was obvious that Butch had worked hard on performing the maneuvers required for the contest. It was his first time flying in the Nats. What a finish for a rookie!

Rich Schultz brought a new Coast Guard helicopter to the gathering this year. He is a top mechanic for the Coast Guard and travels around the world training other mechanics. Rich's helicopter had a special meaning for him: it was modeled after a Sikorsky S-62, which the Coast Guard designated "HH-52." There is no kit manufactured for it, so Rich took a Sea King fuselage and chopped it down. It has a scale three-blade head and an operating hoist that can be lowered and raised by remote control. The HH-52 designation came from a full-scale helicopter that flew rescue missions in Hawaii; its entire crew was lost during a stormy mission, so Rich built the helicopter as a tribute.

There were many new products and innovations at this year's Jamboree. Manufacturers work hard to have new merchandise ready to debut at the event. A few items stood out:

Notable new products

  • Compass 6HV flybarless helicopter

The Compass 6HV is a 12S electric-powered model with a unique head and frame structure. It can fly for roughly 7.5 minutes on a charge while performing radical 3-D. The head design differs from other helicopters: two large links connect the swashplate to the blade grips with a dog-bone–style fastener. The 6HV is light for a 12S-powered machine and is aimed at pilots seeking extreme performance.

  • Spektrum DX8 transmitter

The new Spektrum DX8 includes telemetry so real-time data is sent from the helicopter back to the transmitter. While flying, the transmitter can display engine rpm, temperature, and receiver pack voltage. You can set thresholds (for example, a maximum temperature) and have the transmitter vibrate or sound an alarm when reached. The charger is built into the radio and requires only a 12-volt power supply (included). It recognizes battery chemistry (LiPo vs NiMH) and has an SD card slot with a 16MB card installed. For helicopter pilots, two new functions—active governor gain and active gyro gain—are controlled by toggle switches so gains can be fine-tuned in flight. The DX8 has a suggested price of $429.99 and is currently available.

  • Thunder Tiger Titan X50 (Hobbico distribution)

Evolved from the original Raptor 50, the Titan X50 is about a pound lighter, uses carbon main frames, and features a revamped head and swashplate design. It currently comes with a belt-driven tail; an optional tube drive will be offered later. Demonstrations at the event showed its advanced performance.

  • Miniature Aircraft / HeliWholesaler Furion 6

The long-anticipated Furion 6 electric helicopter debuted, and Bobby Watts won the "One" contest with a flybarless version. The design pairs simplicity with proven Miniature Aircraft components; Beresford "Beast" Davis was one of the designers. Flying the Furion 6 is an intense experience—expect powerful, aggressive performance.

  • Gaui X5

The X5 is a compact electric 3-D machine powered by a 5S 3300 mAh battery (roughly 5 minutes flight time) using 500mm blades. It is all carbon with a super-rigid frame and fits between a 450 and 600 size for pilots seeking a wild 3-D helicopter.

Plan to attend this event next year. If you are into RC helicopters, you should go to at least one IRCHA Jamboree. From the manicured, golf course–like turf to sheer mayhem on the busy flightline, this is not only the biggest and most exciting helicopter event, but it is also the most exciting gathering in all of RC! MF

Sources:

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.